Sorry, Haters (2005)

Director:

Jeff Stanzler

Writer (WGA):

Jeff Stanzler (written by)

Release Date:

1 March 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The dust has finally settled... for most of us.

Plot:

Against the anxieties and fears of post-9/11 America, an Arab cab driver picks up a troubled professional woman with unexpected results.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Syria | Canadian | Passenger | Money

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Robin Wright	...	Phoebe Torrence (as Robin Wright Penn)
Abdellatif Kechiche	...	Ashade Mouhana
Élodie Bouchez	...	Eloise
Aasif Mandvi	...	Hassan
Sandra Oh	...	Phyllis Magintyre
Starla Benford	...	Traffic Officer
Remy K. Selma	...	Imam
Makani Rietveld	...	Ashade's Nephew
Fred Durst	...	Evan Jealous
Rich Monahan	...	European Cab Driver
Annouchka Yameogo-Stanzler	...	Socialite #1
Jennifer McCabe	...	Socialite #2
Maya Mikhailov	...	Socialite #3
David Bishins	...	INS Agent
Victoria Jones	...	Mugging Victim
Scott Williams	...	Receptionist
Andrew Weems	...	Gary
Jim Ryan	...	Security Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kareem Hamdy	...	Ashade's Roomate
Michal Sinnott	...	Rap Star's Girl
Craig Glantz	...	INS Agent (uncredited)
Josh Hamilton	...	Man (uncredited)
Diane Ingino	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Sebastian Roché	...	Mick Sutcliffe (uncredited)

Directed by
Jeff Stanzler

Writing credits (WGA)
Jeff Stanzler		(written by)

Produced by
Jake Abraham	....	producer
Karen Jaroneski	....	producer
Caroline Kaplan	....	executive producer
Ken Kristensen	....	associate producer
Sam Lobel	....	associate producer
Jonathan Sehring	....	executive producer
John Sloss	....	executive producer
Jeff Stanzler	....	producer
Mandy Tagger	....	associate producer
Mark Waters	....	executive producer
Gary Winick	....	producer

Original Music by
Raz Mesinai

Cinematography by
Mauricio Rubinstein

Film Editing by
Annette Davey
Susan Graef

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Eve Battaglia
Tricia Wood

Production Design by
Ethan Tobman

Set Decoration by
Mila Khalevich		(as Lhudmila Khalevich)

Costume Design by
Randy Gardell

Makeup Department
Fabian Garcia	....	hair department head
Gloria Grant	....	additional makeup artist
Toy Van Lierop	....	makeup department head (as Toy van Lierop)

Production Management
Christian Brockey	....	production supervisor
Emily Gardiner	....	post-production supervisor (as Emily Gardiner Jerzog)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mirashyam Blakeslee	....	second second assistant director
Marta Forns-Escudé	....	second assistant director
Ken Kristensen	....	second unit director
Sam Lobel	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Thomas Ahlers	....	set dresser
Leni Calas	....	property master (as Eleni Calas)
Gautam Chopra	....	art assistant
Shannon Finnerty	....	assistant set decorator
Jonathan Lourenco	....	props assistant
Ted Magee	....	storyboard artist
Carole McClintock	....	art assistant
Charlie Powell	....	caricature painter
Mathew Rotman	....	art assistant
Michael Saccio	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Chad Birmingham	....	sound editor
Krissopher Chevannes	....	adr recordist (as Kris Chevannes)
Ryan Collison	....	foley mixer
Mariusz Glabinski	....	sound editor
Edward Gleason	....	boom operator
Marlena Grzaslewicz	....	dialogue editor
Marlena Grzaslewicz	....	sound editor
Anguibe Guindo	....	boom operator
Ken Hunold	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Bruce Kitzmeyer	....	sound editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Aaron J. Rudelson	....	sound recordist (as Aaron Rudelson)
Ira Spiegel	....	sound editor
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Drew Jiritano	....	special effects
John Stifanich	....	special effects (as John Stefanich)

Stunts
Jay Carrado	....	stunt double
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
George Bianchini	....	Steadicam operator
Manuel Billeter	....	additional camera operator
Manuel Billeter	....	first assistant camera
Rick Bruck	....	additional grip
Robert Carnevale	....	additional grip
Larhn Davitt	....	jib technician (as Larhn Laurens Davitt)
David George Ellis	....	additional grip
Tracey Gudwin	....	additional camera operator
Tom Hamilton	....	gaffer
Gary Jackiewicz	....	key grip (as Gary Jankiewicz)
Aaron Kovalchik	....	assistant camera
Robert Markus	....	additional grip
Wayne Paull	....	camera operator
Michael P. Prisco Jr.	....	best boy electric (as Michael P. Prisco)
Mauricio Rubinstein	....	camera operator
Anthony Santos	....	electrician (as Tony Santos)
Steven Truglio	....	additional grip
Dana Turken	....	assistant camera

Casting Department
Paula Chevallet	....	casting: Paris
Julie Retzlaff	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Virginia Cook	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Rachel Biles	....	assistant editor (as Rachel Sullivan)
Sebastian Ischer	....	assistant editor
Michael E. Phillips	....	consultant: digital editing
Larry Schmitt	....	on-line editor: DuArt
Russ Senzatimore	....	assistant editor
Sara Shaw	....	post-production coordinator
Royce Smith	....	color timer
Jacob Steingroot	....	assistant editor
Rachel Sullivan	....	assistant editor
Jane Tolmachyov	....	colorist: DuArt

Music Department
Robert Cotnoir	....	music editor
Shahzad Ismaily	....	musician: banjo
Eyvind Kang	....	musician: viola
Okkyung Lee	....	musician: cello
Raz Mesinai	....	musician: flute, percussion, piano
Douglas Wieselman	....	musician: clarinet (as Doug Weiselman)
Mark Wike	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Jay Berkland	....	intern
Hamish Berry	....	assistant location manager
Manuel Billeter	....	set translator
Paul Brennan	....	production legal: Sloss Law Office LLP
Andrew Cesana	....	production assistant (as Andrew G. Cesana)
Sabrina Chemloul	....	assistant: Abdellatif Kechiche
Sabrina Chemloul	....	script trainee
Sabrina Chemloul	....	set translator
Mara Hade Connolly	....	production accountant (as Mara Connolly)
David D'Alessio	....	production associate: InDigEnt
Bailey Ertel	....	production assistant
Justin Charles Foster	....	intern (as Justin Foster)
Jennifer Gaylord	....	production legal: Sloss Law Office LLP (as Jennifer Gaylord Rohrer)
Shiri Ginzburg	....	intern
Jessica Harris	....	intern
Erin Heidenreich	....	sales agent
Patrick Huber	....	key production assistant
Travis Jackson	....	intern
Markus Janner	....	titles: DuArt
P. Carter Kristensen	....	assistant: Ms. Wright Penn (as Patricia Carter)
Gil Kruger	....	location scout
Louise Lovegrove	....	production assistant
Alan Lowe	....	location assistant
Veronica Lupu	....	script supervisor (as Veronica Lupo)
Adica Manis	....	intern
Jeffrey Max	....	location assistant
Soren Miltich	....	production assistant
Rich Monahan	....	intern (as Richard Monahan)
Laura Nemeri	....	intern
Nichole Patxot	....	production assistant
Jean Pesce	....	assistant location manager
Jonathan Kells Phillips	....	production assistant
Julie Retzlaff	....	assistant production coordinator
Reid Rosefelt	....	publicist
Deborah Ross	....	title designer
Nan Sandle	....	production assistant
Julie Solomon	....	location manager
Michael Solsky	....	intern
Daniel Steinman	....	production legal: Sloss Law Office LLP
Jesse Toledano	....	production assistant
Kevan Tucker	....	intern
Adriano Valle	....	production assistant
Courtney Webster	....	craft service
Leslie E. Witt	....	set medic
Keith Yurevitz	....	titles: DuArt
Larissa Zageris	....	intern

Production Companies

• IFC Productions
• InDigEnt (Independent Digital Entertainment)
• Independent Film Channel (IFC)
• Q-Dog Music Television (in association with)

Distributors

• IFC Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Film1 Sundance Channel (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Galileo Medien AG (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Independent Film Channel (IFC) (2010) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• 701 Sound  sound editing
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  production insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• Cinetic Media  financing and distribution advisory services
• Deborah Ross Film Design  title design
• Du Art Digital  titles
• Du Art Sound  post-production services (as DuArt)
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• Kemna Casting  casting: Amsterdam
• Murphy PR  publicity
• Sloss Law Office  production legal
• Sound One Corporation  post-production sound mixing and adr
• Sound One Corporation  sound transfers
• Village Caterer, The  catering

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Canada:83 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Arabic | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

IFC Productions

Trivia:

Shot in 15 days.

Quotes:

Phoebe:Don't get me involved and then expect me to just roll over because some Jew-boy doesn't want to do his job. Ashade, you hate Americans don't you?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in No Apologies: 'Sorry, Haters' Roundtable (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

I Feel Beautiful

Completely falls apart in the third act

Here's a film I knew very little, if anything, about going in, found utterly compelling in the beginning, thoroughly intriguing in the middle and completely frustrated at the end as the story veered off so wildly in the third act.

That's not to say "Sorry, Haters" isn't a fascinating movie to see.

The main reason to see this is Robin Wright Penn's mesmerizing performance as a woman - Phoebe - who just keeps twisting and turning our expectations of who she is. Watching Phoebe come undone while Penn keeps her completely rational makes the character that more frightening.

Abdel Kechiche - as Ashade, a Syrian chemist working as a New York cab driver and trying to get his brother out of Gitmo - is so believable in the role. You don't doubt his anger and frustration at what's going on and you can understand why he he is who he is.

Writer-director Jeff Stanzler provides an interesting landscape of post-9/11 America. He also provides one of the scariest rationalizations a character can provide for that horrible day.

Stanzler doesn't let us get all that comfortable with the story and throws in a doozy of a twist in the middle. We never see it coming and it just makes the film that much stronger and powerful.

But then comes the denouement.

It's almost as if Stanzler just had no idea how to end his film given the circumstances in which he had placed his two leading characters. So he devises this rather ludicrous change that takes the story completely off-kilter. He just keeps going and you can sense the story going off-track. But Stanzler doesn't seem to mind and, ultimately, the film veers off course and winds up with an utterly preposterous and unconvincing finale. I was never looking for something happy; I just wanted something that I could believe.